About 4 years after I first emailed you about a flag for the Black Country I
am very proud to say that the area now has a registered flag (see
http://ukflagregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Black_Country). This is a
different flag, attached, from the one originally proposed. It has been
registered after a public competition and vote.

Gracie Sheppard of
Redhill School, Stourbridge won - a description of the design can be found at
http://ukflagregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Black_Country. Nearly 1500
votes were cast in total. The flag will be flown by the museum and will go on
sale to the public. The earlier proposal did sterling work
raising the issue of a flag in the area and can retire with dignity now!
Philip Tibbetts, 17 July 2012

NotesThe design was the winner of a
competition run by the Black Country Living Museum.The flag features a chain
to represent the manufacturing heritage of the area whilst the upright
triangular shape in the background recalls the iconic glass cones and iron
furnaces that featured in the architectural landscape of the area. The red and
black colours recall the famous description of the Black Country by Elihu Burrit
that it was "black by day and red by night" owing to the smoke and fires of
industry.Source:
http://ukflagregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Black_Country&oldid=666

Black Country FlagThe Black Country is a traditional area that straddles
the counties of Staffordshire and Worcestershire. The unveiling was the
culmination of the Black Country Living Museumís festival of steam which saw the
300th anniversary of the first ever operational steam engine, which was erected
in the Black Country. Gracie won £200 and the runners up received £100 for their
efforts. Jason Saber, 17 July 2012

I am championing the aim for the Black Country region of the British Midlands
to get its own flag. Yesterday's Express & Star newspaper featured an article on
my flag and the other symbols that I have designed:

By creating a standard, Philip Tibbetts hopes he will put the Black Country
region on the official map. The unique flag has been designed to help the region
achieve official recognition. The engineering project manager, who indulges in a
spot of graphic design in his spare time, has also designed a coat of arms and
tartan-style plaid pattern. Mr. Tibbetts's efforts will add weight to the
campaign, which has been launched by Linda Waltho, the MP for Stourbridge. She
recently tabled a motion in the House of Commons calling for the Black Country
to finally be recognised by the Ordnance Survey. The Black Country is said to
have gained its name in the mid-19th century from the smoke from the many
thousands of ironworking foundries and forges. Other theories mention the
abundant coal in the region. The Black Country Chamber of Commerce describes the
region as the four boroughs of Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell.
Mr. Tibbetts' black, red and yellow flag is divided by a diagonal cross taken
from the ancient Mercian flag and features a chain to represent the heavy
industry which used to dominate the area. The four arms of the cross represent
the four boroughs of the Black Country and the flag's motto is 'Black by day and
red by night'. Mr. Tibbetts, who grew up in Halesowen but is now based in
Preston, said he hoped the designs would boost pride in the area.

The flag is made but currently used mainly at promotional events and not
actually flown. I have recently been interviewed about the flag on BBC Radio and www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry now
features an article on the flag and an article on its meaning. I've also got the
support of local personality and historian Carl Chinn. Owing to my radio
interview a local clothing company has got in touch with the idea of using the
flag as part of their designs which I have fully agreed to.Philip
Tibbetts, 22 March 2008